10 fascinating Things to do in Malaga 

10 fascinating things to do in Malaga 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Malaga, Spain. Welcome to one of the world’s oldest cities! The views, the culture, the people, and the architecture in Malaga are just amazing! It is home to one of the most amazing and talented artists and the home to one of the busiest seaports in the Mediterranean. Fascinating, right? 

Here are ten more things to discover and enjoy while in this beautiful city, which by the way, is just a few miles away from the northern part of the African Continent.

1. Cathédrale de la Encarnacion de Malaga 

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Cathedrals are always great places to visit. Europe has many cathedrals full of rich history and their designs are amazing. In Malaga, this cathedral is one to tour, built in the 1st Century in 1528, and was completed around 1782. There was a mosque on the site where the cathedral currently sits; it was recaptured by catholic troops in 1487. The design of the cathedral incorporates gothic, baroque and renaissance designs. Luis Ortiz is credited for a lot of designs and when he passed on before the completion of the cathedral, Pedro de Mena a famous woodcarver finished the work, especially of the carved statues of the saints. Iglesia del Sagrario is part of the original structure, there is also a cathedral museum and a beautiful garden. A beautiful place to visit.

2. Picasso Museum Malaga

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Picasso was born in Malaga! Did you know that? Yes, he was and since this is his hometown, there has to be something that is dedicated to him and his work. Picasso Museum is located at the Buenavista Palace; built in the 16th Century and holds more than 200 of Picasso’s work! If you are an art enthusiast, you will enjoy it. The variety of art is amazing, from a painting of Picasso’s sister that he did when he was 13, to sculptures made of different materials like clay, metal and plaster/clay. 

Most of the art pieces were donated to the museum by Picasso’s son’s wife Christine Ruiz-Picasso, and Picasso’s Grandson Bernard Ruiz-Picasso. The Museum was completed in 2003.

3. Alcazaba

Image: Wikipedia

This is one of the most visited places in Malaga, and it is understandable because of its rich history and one cannot miss it when in the city! Construction began in the 8th Century, the Alcazaba was once upon a time a fortress, and the name is derived from the Arabic word Al-qazbah which means fortification. Located where the Pheeno Punic stood, and near the Gibralfaro Mountains, the Alcazaba was built by Muslims during the Middle Ages. Over time, it has acted as the residence for governors and storage for which would be used in case of an attack. 

There are very beautiful gardens around the outer citadel.

4. Roman Theater

Roman Theater
Image: Wikimedia Commons

Just near the Alcazaba is the Roman Theater. It has a very interesting history, it was abandoned sometime and used as a quarry at a certain point in history but is now accessible for public and tourists. The theater was discovered in 1951 and has some of the original pieces of the construction intact, and was reopened to the public in 2011. there is quite a lot of history there! The theater is actually in pretty good shape considering the fact that it has gone through bombings in the civil war era and other destructions over time. Emperor Augustus commissioned the building of the monument in the First BC and was used for several hundreds of years then abandoned until it was discovered by the Moors who settled in Malaga in 756 AD. A must-visit!

5. Castilo Gibralfaro

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Malaga is an amazingly historical city, full of so many things to see. One of the most notable things is the Castilo Gibralfaro, which was built in the 14th century. The castle housed the troops which protected the Alcazaba. Walking along the walls of the Castle, one gets an amazing view of the city of Malaga. The upper part of the castle has a courtyard and has the interpretation Center, where one can get all the information about the castle. The Phoenician Well as well as the baths and the tower are located in this part of the castle. The troop barracks and the stables are on the lower area and also has the auxiliary buildings. 

6. Playa de la Malagueta  

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Malaga is a coastal city, so a trip will not be complete without a visit to the beach! Get to sunbathe, stroll, swim and relax at the beach which has amazing views, beautiful blue water, sun, sand, and palm trees to top everything up. And you do not have to take a long trip from the city to get here since it is only ten minutes from the city! Spain’s oldest yacht club, the Real Club Mediterráneo de Málaga is also nearby, and if you have children with you, then it is the perfect place to stroll with them! 

7. Museo del Vidrio

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 There are more glasses and glass items than you can keep up with at the Glass and Crystal Museum in Malaga. You might be asking yourself why glass? Well, the many items on display at the museum, including furniture, decorative items, stained glass windows, and paintings have glass incorporated in them and make them stand out. Most of these are drawn from the 6th Century BC, 19th, and 20th Centuries, incorporating the Byzantine, Roman, and Greek cultures. 

One can have a tour of this amazing museum and get guided tours in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.

8. Ataranzas Market

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One of the most amazing things about Malaga is the Ataranzas Market. One gets to sample and see the best of Malaga. The food and the people! Also, if you are staying at a place where you can cook, then get to buy fresh foods; meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and many more. There is no better way to visit a place than enjoy local food! The building which houses the market has previously been used as a shipyard, a hospital, a military base, and in the 19th century, it became a market! So, not only will you be getting fresh food in the three department market, but you will also be walking on a historical building!

9. Automobile and Fashion Museum

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The evolution of fashion and transportation-especially the automobile industry is a very fascinating one. The fashion industry is not to be left behind. A lot has changed in fashion over the centuries and a lot of that has been documented at the museum. From the ages of horse-drawn carriages to modern vehicles that move fast, with changes in design; there as a lot to learn and discover. The Museum of Automobiles and Fashion in Malaga is a fascinating place to visit even if you are not a petrol head and cars or fashion, are not your thing. It will be like stepping into a time machine that will transport you in stages to the discovery and construction of the first car as well as fashion culture. Haute Couture. Here, you will look at 13 thematic rooms with over 90 historic cars, more than 200 haute couture pieces as well as contemporary art. Bentley, Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Bugatti, Ferrari, and clothes from decades back. 

10. Savor some Espeto

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One of the most fascinating things about travel is that you get to savor local cuisine of the place. In Malaga, there are a lot of things to eat, but Espeto has been around for a long time. They are fish grilled over an open fire; usually, six salted sardines skewered on a bamboo stick and mostly a form of street food in Malaga, best eaten during summer. The sardines can be spiced using herbs like rosemary. Several places in Malaga have this food, and if you ask anyone where you can get good Aspesto, you will be directed!